Like many Americans, I have been closely following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group which controls the Gaza Strip. While no one – Israeli or American – wishes for violence, Israel has an absolute right to defend itself and cannot be expected to tolerate bombardment of its citizens, mainly civilians including many women and children, by terrorists who are committed to the destruction of their state.

Hamas and affiliated militant groups in Gaza have been lobbing rockets and mortars into southern Israel for months, targeting towns like Sderot, where bus stops and even playgrounds must now be equipped with fortified concrete structures to protect Israeli civilians from attacks. It is worth noting that Hamas chooses to launch many of its rockets from Gaza neighborhoods deliberately placing at risk the very citizens for whom it claims to advocate.

After Israel responded to this aggression last week with a precision strike to take out one of Hamas’s leading military commanders, hundreds of rockets and mortars have been fired into Israeli territory. Some, assembled in Gaza from Iranian components with Iranian technical assistance, have flown as far as Tel Aviv – Israel’s largest city and its commercial capital.

Israel has responded with precision-guided strikes on rocket and mortar installations, and on the Hamas commanders and operatives who are responsible for the indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians. Israel has also deployed its Iron Dome missile defense system, which according to Israeli Defense Forces statements, has intercepted more than one hundred rockets aimed at Israeli towns and cities. The Iron Dome, which Israel developed in partnership with the United States, has been very successful in protecting the lives and property of Israeli citizens and I am proud to have supported funding for its development.

It is my hope that Hamas will immediately cease its aggression against Israeli civilians and military personnel, and that the two sides will be able to agree to a cease fire that prevents further casualties on all sides. This violence is a vivid illustration that our close ally Israel lives in a very tough neighborhood, and that they must have our full support.

Congressman Jo Bonner represents Alabama 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.